What The Judges Said: 'X Factor' Final 16

It was Wild Card Week on The X Factor, as four Judges' Houses rejects were invited back into the competition, making it 16 in the first live show, which aired for a record 150 minutes. So, if you didn't have time to watch all of the show last night, or simply want to relive the memories, read on to see what Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh had to say about the hopefuls' performances, ahead of tonight's double elimination.

F.Y.D - 'Billionaire'

Louis: "Wow, what a brilliant, brilliant opening to the show. I loved the song choice, I loved the styling, I loved the choreography. I mean, you looked like a really brilliant band. The only negative - you're probably better dancers than singers. But it was a great opening, well done."

Dannii: "I actually thought that the song choice was great for you. Just be careful you don't do too many dance moves so that it interrupts the singing. Because on the chorus, it was affecting it a bit too much, and you don't need to move that much."

Cheryl: "For me personally, you need to move some more! It's harder to be able to sing well and teach somebody dance. When you can sing and dance, the singing can come, and you have room to improve."

Simon: "You can imagine Louis directing Fame and saying to everyone in the movie, 'By the way, can you not dance?' It's just ridiculous - this is why I put you guys through because you are relevant in the charts today, because people are singing and dancing, Louis, in the charts. You did great, guys."

Matt Cardle - 'When Love Takes Over'

Louis: "Tonight Matt, you proved that you are the real deal. You're a real music guy, you're out of your comfort zone, I loved what you did with that song. I would download that song now. You're going to be here for a long time, and I love everything about you because you're a music man. Yes!"

Cheryl: "I think Dannii has done a great job with you, that was a fantastic song choice for you. When I think of you I always put myself in your position, and for some reason, I always imagine you painting some skirting board, whistling along to the radio. And now you're standing on one of the biggest platforms ever, and that must be really overwhelming."

Simon: "Look, I can remember the first time we saw your audition, and I wasn't at the time genuinely convinced that you could believe this. Then you reverted to the Roberta Flack song at the Bootcamp show - which was incredible. This actually topped that - that was a genius performance. This was why it was so good, because if you put this record out in a week's time you'd have a monster hit record. You've just turned yourself into a recording artist. But, you know what, bit more self-belief now, you've gotta start being a frontman now. Stop looking at the floor, believe in it."

Dannii: "What you've done is so fantastic, so exciting. You're really versatile, and you delivered on that, unbelievable. I remember, on Judges' Houses, you couldn't even look us in the eyes, and you're on that stage nailing it. I can't wait to hear the next performance."

John Adeleye - 'One Sweet Day'

Dannii: "You did so well to walk out there and stay composed through all that, I loved the passion you put into it. I'm not sure that the song choice made you really current, but it was a beautiful performance, and I'm glad that at the end you put your stamp at it."

Cheryl: "That is one of my favourite songs of all time, I love it. You sang it beautifully, and if I was to sum you up in one word, it would just be, 'Gorgeous'. Your eyes glisten, you've got a really warm smile. If anything I would say is, one thing is, I'm not sure whether you've put your stamp on this competition yet. I feel like I know you the least, but you can sing your heart out. Amazing performance."

Simon: "You look fantastic, seriously you look great. You did well, I thought the final note actually was good. But in my opinion, you weren't given the ability to do much with the song, and of the problems is John, Louis was going to choose that song regardless. You weren't given a chance to do anything contemporary."

Louis: "What I want to say about you is, you're one of the most genuine and sincere contestants in the competition. I know you, and I know that if people vote for John, he has a lot more to give. This guy has so much more to give! I need you to vote for John!"

Rebecca Ferguson - 'Teardrops'

Louis: "You are a class act, I like everything about you, but especially your voice. I think you have an amazing recording voice. You remind me a bit of Sade and Norah Jones. You are the real deal. You are a class act"

Dannii: "Rebecca, I love your voice, but I also love you. It was amazing watching the auditions, you couldn't even look up, and now you're performing on the big stage. I want to see you grow more and more every week. And you're the style queen, I love it."

Simon: "I kind of feel that you've been pigeon-holed by us to keep talking about things that are sad, and you're not that kind of person. You've got a couple of kids, fantastic. But you're a fun girl, you're a great singer, and now put that to one side, enjoy every second you have on this show, and let's start seeing and meeting the person who I think you really are. And once again, I think you have enormous potential. I don't think the song gave you much of a chance to really show what a good singer you are. It was a bit of a safe choice. But, one week, you'll come back and really surprise us. I've got a feeling about you."

Cheryl: "I can't heap enough praise on you. The most amazing thing about you is everything's real. Everything from the beginning is real, the styling, it's all just an exaggeration of you. Your voice is naturally incredible, and you're a Scouser and I love those."

Storm Lee - 'We Built This City'

Dannii: "Storm, you sang that really well, the audience absolutely loved it. I don't know what I was expecting. But yes you put on the show. And you can return those costumes to Louis's wardrobe after the show."

Cheryl"If I'm honest with you, the image for me is a bit much - I don't think you need to push it that far. What you are the prime example of Storm is to never give up on hope, and never let your dreams be shattered no matter how many times the door's shut."

Simon: "It is what it is. Louis has turned you into something out of Batman, and the performance is very '70s glam rock. But having said that, I don't think you had much choice because without that you are somebody who has failed to be a rockstar. This is what you dreamed of doing. It is kind of absurd, but maybe it'll work, I don't know. You sang it great."

Louis: "Storm has waited all his life for this moment, and I know what this means for you. It's a big, big dream for this guy. You took a chance, you did your hair red. You're a great singer, but I want everybody in Scotland to vote for you."

Belle Amie - 'Airplanes'

Louis: "So, girls, you look like you're having a great time. You've got a great image, and it looks like there's a great chemistry among this band. And we need a new girlband, don't we? I wasn't crazy about the song choice, but I think you've got great potential, and I love Rebecca!"

Dannii"Girls, I think the song choice was fantastic for you, it looked like it would be a song that you would sing. The image looks great, and it always takes longer to get to know the bands on the show, but you're gelling really well for the moment. So for one week, it's incredible."

Cheryl: "I have to be honest with you, I felt uncertain watching them, I felt really unsure. That will only come with time, you need time to simmer together, to get chemistry going, and things will become natural. I do think your saving grace was the song choice, great song choice."

Simon: "That's exactly why they're here, because they need time. What a show like this needs is some girl power. It needs a band like you who have been given a shot, who are prepared to work hard. I've got to tell you, sorry to say this Cheryl, but of all the girl bands out there in the market at the moment, I actually think there's a place for you girls right now. I think you're really current. I like the fact that you can rap and sing, but it's gonna need girls to really, really put you into the next round. I really hope you're given a shot, because I can see massive potential for you four."

Cher Lloyd - 'Just Be Good To Me'

Louis: "Wow, Cher! For such a little girl you've got incredible stage presence. You're like a little doll but when you sing it's just very, very powerful. I love the staging of Brian Friedman. It could be a number one record I think. I loved everything about you Cher!"

Dannii: "Cher, I absolutely loved that. You are so watchable, I can't take my eyes off you, you sounded fantastic, you're a star. And you really, really do command that stage like no-one else in the competition."

Simon: "Let me make this absolutely clear, any doubts that anyone had as to why you were picked a couple of weeks ago has just been completely and utterly blown away. You are exactly what we were looking for, which is a new little star. And you should be unpredictable! That's what pop music is all about! Some people will like you, some people won't. I absolutely love you which is probably the wrong this to say because I'm 51 years old. But I think you're part of a new generation, and it was genius. Loved it!"

Cheryl: "For you, 17, to get up there after all the pressure you've been under, and deliver a performance like that, just says you are a star. You ooze star quality, and I'm so proud of you. I love watching you, you're cool, you're current, you're young, and you're exactly what this competition needs."

Diva Fever - 'Sunny'

Louis: "You've put a smile on everybody's face there, and Diva Fever brings the fun factor to The X Factor. You know who you remind me of guys? You remind me of Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan."

Dannii: "It's getting hot in here, really loved that! You know, if I was having a Christmas party and there was the Christmas album playlist, that would be track one, and I'm looking forward to what track two is going to be."

Cheryl: "I tell you what it was like for me! You know when you turn the TV at 6am and there's people motivating you to get up to exercise, that's what you reminded me of! 'Get about a bit, Mr Motivator!' What fun it is to watch, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the performance, well done guys."

Simon: "This might create a few raised eyebrows on why I put you through. But I've got to tell you why I did this, because I think the world has become quite a boring place over the last couple of years, and I enjoy music and the music business because I think it should be fun and I think it should be entertaining. Whatever you think, it always makes me smile when I see you guys perform, and that's why I welcome you on this show on the Saturday night. Congratulations!"

Paije Richardson - 'Killing Me Softly'

Louis: "When you first auditioned, I saw something, and tonight you proved that you've got something. I'm so glad that Dannii gave you the chance. She gave you the chance because you deserve it. You're very, very talented. And you remind me of a soulful, cuddly little Luther Vandross."

Cheryl: "You've definitely come out tonight, and you owned that Wild Card. You owned your place up there tonight. You sing like a diva, you sing with so much passion, and I absolutely love that about you Paije."

Simon: "You know what, I was praying that Dannii would bring you back as the Wild Card choice, I really was. What's fantastic, apart from what you're wearing which isn't great, is that you've come back without an attitude. There's nothing surly about you, you've come back to prove a point, and you've got something which is rare, which is that you're infectious. And actually, I've got to tell you, you sang that really well."

Dannii: "Welcome back again! So good to have you here, you sang that really well, and everybody loves you. You put personality on that, you stamped it all over there. Thank you very much."

Katie Waissel - 'We Are The Champions'

Louis: "When you first auditioned, I thought you were more style than substance, and after that performance, I haven't really changed my mind, because I don't know who Katie is. It's a little bit of Madonna, it's a little bit of Gwen Stefani, and I honestly think the song was too big for you."

Dannii: "It must've been so hard to get up there after everything that's happened this week. I thought, vocally, that was fierce. My negative is, I don't get the whole look. I loved what you were wearing in the auditions, its quirkiness. But I don't get tonight's look. It doesn't work for me."

Simon: "I'm going to totally disagree with Dannii. I actually like what you're wearing, I do. Because it's different, I am so bored of all these people coming out onto all these competition shows, trying to look like somebody else, not having anything original about them. And that's what I've always liked about you. I think that you're original, I think you are a drama queen, but I've worked with a few, so I'm used to that. But no, I think you've got an interesting voice, you have an interesting voice. You remind me of Cyndi Lauper. I think you're a one-off. I don't think you've had the best press in the world, but you are great fun to work with from my experience. I think you are a popstar, and I'm glad that you're here. Good for you."

Cheryl: "There's going to be a lot of people out there that don't get this style. There's a whole new wave of artists out there like Lady GaGa, people that allow themselves to be expressive. That, for me, is exactly what you stand for, and I love that about you. You're helping me embrace difference as well, you're teaching me as well. You know what's been lovely, getting to know you. You're a great girl, you're a team player, and I really have enjoyed getting to know you. And Louis, there's time yet for you to get to know who she is. She just needs a chance to prove it."

Mary Byrne - 'It's A Man's World'

Dannii: "Mary, Mary, Mary, you've really brought the house down here! I can only say that that was one of the best vocal performances on the show. That was tremendous. And you know what Simon says about there being a new wave of popstar - you're it. It would be an absolute crime if you went back to your day job, this is your day job."

Cheryl: "What can I say? You can just absolutely feel the energy in the room. I heard every single word of that performance. It was so from the heart, it was like you waited your whole life to sing that. It was amazing."

Simon: "You know what's interesting is that I can see how you've developed an image from Cheryl. You know what was fantastic about that performance, because we've had some real diversity tonight. But you know what, regardless of your age or your taste in music, people love a tryer. You came out here tonight, and you gave it 110%, and I've got to credit Louis for this. It was a great choice of song, and I'm really happy to have you in the competition. Good for you!"

Louis: "The 'Tesco Lady from Dublin' has become a Diva. Who would've thought? I am so, so proud of you Mary. You've waited 50 years for this. I so believe in you, and I want everybody to vote for you because you've got 'The X Factor'."

Nicolo Festa - 'Just Dance'

Louis: "You might not be everybody's cup of tea, but you're definitely mine, because you're a diva! You're quirky, and you're in tune, and you took Lady GaGa and made it your own. I love it."

Cheryl: "I didn't love it Nicolo. I'm sorry, I didn't. I think the one thing above all that you need almost is to redeem that connection, and that comes from your eyes, and that put me off a little bit having those covered over. I would've liked to have seen you and your performance. I'm sorry."

Simon: "I actually think I've gone slightly nuts this year because I actually quite liked that. Again, given the alternative which is singing a boring song, you obviously love Lady GaGa. It was different, I think you look better than you sound, but I thought it was much better the first time round in your first audition. So, I liked it."

Dannii: "Nicolo, I thought you sounded fantastic on that. You, as I said at the Judges' Houses, are my big risk, but I love that about you. I love the fact that you're going to take it right to the end and work it. People say diva like it's a bad thing."

1 Direction - 'Viva La Vida'

Louis: "Wow, guys, if I heard you were going to do Coldplay I thought it was a big, big risk. I love what you did with the song, you totally made it your own. I love that the band is gelling, even though Simon's going to claim he put this band together. It was my idea originally. Boys, I think potentially you could be the next big boyband. But you have a lot of work to do. But Simon, I'm not sure about the styling."

Dannii: "Guys, I don't know whose idea it was because I wasn't there, but you look like you fit together like you're the perfect band. That song was fantastic, and you did make it your own. I wasn't thinking of Coldplay then, it was the perfect pop band performance."

Cheryl: "I have to agree with Dannii, you look like you were meant to be together as a group. You look fantastic, you've got all the ingredients of the perfect pop band. I think the girls will be going crazy for you, but you need a little bit more time to develop as a group, that's all."

Simon: "Regarding your role in putting the group together Louis, we'll rewind the tapes on that one. You guys came together because your Boot Camp auditions were not good enough. But you were too good to throw away. We took a risk, and I've got to tell you, what was so impressive was, when one of you screwed up at the end, Liam stepped in, you brought it back together. That's what bands do. Regarding the whole styling issues, I don't want to style this band, because I don't know how to style a band like this. We asked the band to do whatever they want to do, I'm not going to intefere. They're going to do it their way. It was brilliant guys."

Wagner - 'She Bangs/Love Shack'

Dannii: "When you think things can't get any crazier... It was entertaining, but I'm trying to keep my head together - we're trying to find the next recording star, we're trying to think of that. But it was fun, very karaoke."

Cheryl: "It was undoubtedly very fun, and you're very earthy, and nice. I like you Wagner."

Simon: "This show tonight, it feels like you've made a milkshake out of an onion, a sausage, a strawberry, a lemon - you mix it all together. That, without question, was the most bonkers performance I have ever seen. But, you know what, embrace the madness."

Louis: "At least you were not predictable. When people talk about The X Factor tomorrow, they will all be talking about Wagner. Imagine, they'll all love you. But you've got something, you're different, and you're fun. We took a chance, hey."

Aiden Grimshaw - 'Mad World'

Louis: "I know that we've absolutely found a popstar, it's one of the best performances of the stars. I know you love music, and I think you are the next big male popstar."

Cheryl: "Wow, I have to say, I'm taken aback by that. That was the surprise of the evening for me. That was fantastic, that was all popstar level already. I thought it was brilliant, congratulations."

Simon: "Interestingly, this is the second time I've sat on one of these shows, and been blown away by this song. It happened once in America, and it's just happened tonight. What I love about that, and what I love about you, you are so current in this whole Robert Pattinson Twilight. Your voice reminded me of Michael Stipe there. I think you played it perfectly, you made it original. I've got to tell you, my best performance of the night."

Dannii: "That performance had legs, it had such substance. What's great is that you have this strength when you perform, but there's this incredible vulnerability, and it's beautiful to watch. It's very arresting. Blackpool, turn the lights on!"

Treyc Cohen - 'One'

Louis: "All I can say is, Cheryl did a really, really good thing [picking you] as her Wild Card as you deserve to be on that stage, because you've got so much soul, and you're a fighter. You tried it before, and you came back, and that's what you have to do in the music business. You have to work hard, and eventually it happens. This is your time, Treyc."

Dannii: "What a show, there's been so many incredible performances. To start with one like that means you are going in up there. You need to keep it up every week. Your voice is phenomenal, so we know who you are."

Simon: "It's really interesting about you Treyc, even the way you're standing now. Your whole body language. You look vulnerable, and you don't have any confidence really. I'm amazed that we overlooked you in this competition. I don't like what you're wearing, but that's honestly not an issue, because by a clear mile, that was the best vocal of the entire competition. Seriously, seriously good."

Cheryl Cole: "Do you know Treyc? I actually feel like the luckiest judge tonight, to be able to welcome you back, because that was incredible. And I'm so happy to have you here representing my category. So thank you so much for delivering."